Novares opens expansion at Portuguese plant

French automotive supplier Novares Group has inaugurated an expansion project at its Arouca manufacturing facility in northern Portugal, which will specifically aim to improve services to car maker PSA.
 
The 1500-square-meter extension has been equipped with new state-of-the-art machinery now ranging in size up to 2,100 metric tons clamping force, Novares announced Oct.8.
 
The factory produces a range of engines, interior and exterior parts for the automotive industry, including underbody covers, engine beauty covers and central consoles.
 
In its statement, Novares said the expansion enabled the company to apply its standards in terms of production flow, and “[now] better serve customer PSA at all its main plants in Europe, such as Vigo and Mangualde in Portugal, Poissy in France, Trnava in Slovakia, Kenitra in Morocco and Zaragoza in Spain.”
 
Work began on the expansion in September 2018 and was completed within a year. The workforce will increase from 78 to an anticipated 100 people by the end of this year.
 
“The extension and the associated upgrading of the machinery brings the factory up to the best standards within Novares,” said CEO Pierre Boulet speaking at the opening ceremony.
 
“It confirms both our commitment to the Arouca site and our desire to give top-class service to our customer, PSA."